antibiotic
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antibiotic
A medication used to treat bacterial infections by killing bacteria or inhibiting their growth.
Der Arzt hat mir ein Antibiotikum gegen die Mandelentzündung verschrieben.
The doctor prescribed me an antibiotic for the tonsillitis.
The word comes from Greek: 'anti' means 'against' and 'bios' means 'life'. An 'Antibiotikum' (antibiotic) is therefore a substance that works 'against the life' of bacteria. This origin helps you remember the meaning.
Antibiotika sind nur gegen Bakterien wirksam, nicht gegen Viren.
Antibiotics are effective only against bacteria, not against viruses.
In connection with antibiotics, there are fixed roles: the doctor 'verschreibt' (prescribes) an antibiotic. The patient 'bekommt' (gets) it, 'nimmt' (takes) it, or 'nimmt es ein' (takes/ingests it).
Du musst das Antibiotikum genau nach Vorschrift einnehmen.
You have to take the antibiotic exactly as prescribed.
To state the purpose of the medication, the preposition 'gegen' (against/for) is used with the accusative. You take an antibiotic 'gegen' a disease or 'gegen' the bacteria causing it.
Ich nehme ein Antibiotikum gegen eine bakterielle Infektion.
I am taking an antibiotic for a bacterial infection.
medication
'das Medikament' and 'das Antibiotikum' both belong to the area of health and treatment. 'Medikament' is the general term for a remedy for illnesses or symptoms. 'Antibiotikum' is a specific type of medication: it works against bacterial infections. You should not use 'Antibiotikum' for every medication. For headaches, coughs, or viruses, an antibiotic is not automatically meant. The confusion arises because antibiotics are often prescribed by a doctor and taken like other medications.
Wegen der bakteriellen Entzündung muss Sofia ein Antibiotikum nehmen.
Because of the bacterial infection, Sofia has to take an antibiotic.
Heute habe ich in der Apotheke ein Medikament gegen Fieber gekauft.
Today I bought a medication for fever at the pharmacy.